Fitting



A. MINELLA Dec. 27, 1938.

FITTING Filed March 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FITTING Angelo Minella, Boston, Mass.

Application March 26, 1937, Serial No. 133,196

6 Claims. (Cl. 285-210) This invention relates to pipe fittings and more not great and water at desired high temperature particularly, although not exclusively, to a fitting is supplied to all radiators.

for connecting a feed pipe from the main supply The invention will be more clearly understood pipe to a radiator in a one pipe hot Water heating from the following description in conjunction system and for connecting a return pipe line from with the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 the radiator to the main supply pipe, i. e. a re- Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a Versible fitting, hot water heating system employing a fitting em- In a one pipe hot water heating system a single bodying the invention;

main supply pipe extends from the heater to a Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken upon the line location adjacent each radiator and thence back o F g- 1; 10 to the heater. Separate branch supply and re- Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially turn pipes are connected between the main supupo t line of ply pipe and each radiator. Prior to the present 4 is a Sectional w taken p the e invention one pipe hot water heating systems o F g. 3;

5 have possessed many objectionable features. In Fig. 5 is asectional view taken upo e l ne such systems it has been impossible to obtain of satisfactory circulation without using a pump or 6 is Sectional w taken po the l other artificial circulator. Even with such cirof gculators satisfactory distribution and equaliza- 3 d 9 a d g mmatic views illustion of heat could not be obtained and radiators traiiing Several 13 3 in W i the fi i m y 20 closest to the heater would utilize the heat almost be used for eonneetlpg t a supp y p pe wish to the exclusion of the radiators most remote from the branch Supply P P returning to the radlator;

the beaten Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the Prior to the present invention the only satis same fitting positioned to connect the return pipe factory hot water heating systems have been the m the {adiator to f mam 25 two-pipe systems, that is, with one pipe supplying fig g fi plan of fittmg of modlfied hot water to the radiators and one pipe returning the water to the heater. These two-pipe systems are expensive to install and cost about onethird more than the installation of a steam heat- ;gi 3:22 i m Instances whgre cost Before explaining in detail the present invena principal factor, a steam heating sysd t d th t th term has been installed in preference to a hot to .be im ers 9o a e mven 1911 15 water heating system not llmlted in its application to the details of i I The present invent'ion makes ossible an construction and arrangement of parts illustrated fi t h t t 1n the accompanying drawings, since the invenclfan one P mg system m tion is capable of other embodiments and of being which there is an even distribution of hot water practiced or carried out in various ways, 1 11-, to 1 a j Thls made possible by is to be understood that the phraseology or ter-' speclal pipe fittlng for connecting both the branch minology employed herein i for th purpose f i y Pipes and F Pipes the main Supply ,description and not of limitation, and it is not plpe, the fittmg 1S reversible- The fitting of intended to limit the invention claimed herein the invention tends to maintain well defined hot beyond t requirements of the prior art. and cold water regions throughout the main sup- A fitting embodying the invention is illustrated 4 y p pe- T s the Water passes into the in the accompanying drawings at It and may be tine, t Wat is nv y d from a portion y employed either for connecting the supply pipe of the hot water region leaving the remaining 31 t adiator 3] with the main supply pipe 32 portion of the hot water region for the passage of of a one pipe hot water heating system as shown hot water through the fitting. When the water ,1; A i Fig 1 or may be employed for connecting I is returned from a radiator to the main pipe, it is th t rn pipe 33 from the radiator to the main 50 caused to flow into the cool water region of the pipe 32 as shown at B. The fitting Iii comprises main pipe. Consequently, well defined hot'and a body H having a main passage 12 which is cool water regions are maintained throughout the provided withinternal threads l3 at each end to main supply pipe so that the temperature drop receive a pipe connection. The body II is pro- 7 throughout the length of the main supply pipe is. Vided with an elbow formation l4 having a por- Fig. 12 is an end elevational View as viewed from the right of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevational 30 View.

tional area of the main passage I2 which is not I greater than the diiference between the cross sectional areas of the main passage I2 and the passage in the main pipe 32. Preferably, the elbow formation I4 is located so that the center line of the branch passage I6 lies in a plane spaced from and parallel to the center line of the main pas sage I2. The wall portion I 5 of the elbow formation I4 curves and extends toward one end of the fitting to a point opposite the portion I8 of the body II and viewed exteriorly as shown in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7 to 10, the wall portion I5 is composed of angularly disposed walls within the bore of the fitting which merge into the wall thereof. These walls as shown are substantially of a length less than the radius of the bore of the fitting. The portion I8 is shaped to form part of the wall of the elbow formation and is curved transversely as shown in Fig. 4 and is inclined longitudinally from near one end of the fitting outward toward the outer end of the elbow formation as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently, the entrance or mouth 20 of the branch passage I6 is not choked.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the fitting A is arranged so that the mouth or inner end 20 of the elbow formation is positioned in the upper or hot water region of the pipe 32 and faces in the opposite direction from that indicated by the arrows to permit the hot water to flow into the branch passage I6 and at the same time permit a portion of the water in the hot water region to fiow through the fitting A. As shown at B the fitting I0 is turned in the opposite direction from its position as shown at A and is turned about its axis so the inner end 20 of the elbow formation is positioned in the lower or cold water region of the pipe 32 and faces. in the same direction as the arrows. In other words, the fitting is reversible.

As shown in Fig. 2, the elbow formation I4 is offset to the right of the fitting II]. It will be understood that the fitting may be constructed with the elbow formation offset to the other side of the fitting, thus providing two fittings which otherwise are identical.

respect to the longitudinal axis of the fitting, the mouth of the projecting portion occupies a crosssectional area so positioned with respect to the cross-sectional area of the fitting that a portion of the liquid traveling through thefitting above and laterally of the bottom of the mouth of the projection will continue to travel uninterruptedly,

in its normal path through the fitting. This will be clear upon reference to Figures '7 to 10.

' When the fitting is being used for connecting the main supply pipe to a branch supply pipe, the portion 9 may be positioned vertically as shown in Fig. 7 or may be turned at least 90 as illustrated in Fig. 9 and still maintain the inner end 20 located in the upper or hot water region of the main supply pipe. Of course, the portion 9 may be located at any position intermediate the position shown in Figs. 7 and 9 as illustrated in Fig. 8. Because of the fact that the fitting can be used satisfactorily in so many different posi- Where the elbow forma tion is offset, as illustrated in the drawings, with tions, a saving of piping and labor often results in given installations. It will be noted upon reference to Figures 2, 4 and 6 and 7 to 10 inclusive that the opening 20 defined by the wall I5 and the wall I8 forms an inlet for the branch which is not substantially in excess of the quadrant of a circle defined by the radius of the bore of the fitting.

As shown in Fig. 10 the portion 9 is positioned in a horizontal plane and with the inner end 20 positioned in the lower or cold water region of the main supply pipe. This is the preferred position of the fitting for connecting the return pipe from the radiator to the main supply pipe in a hot water system where no pump or other type of artificial circulator is employed. If a pump is employed then the main pipe may be positioned above a radiator and the return pipe extended upwardly and connected to the branch passage with the portion 9 in a vertical position.

One of the outstanding advantages of the fitting of the invention is that it makes possible an eflicient one pipe hot water heating system either with or without a pump or other circulator. One reason for this. efiiciency is that the fitting of the invention does not obstruct the flow of water inasmuch as the portion of the elbow for- .mation which projects into the main passage of the fitting does not occupy a greater portion of the cross sectional area of the main passage than the difference between the latter and the 'cross sectional area of the passage in the main supply pipe which is connected to the fitting. t will be noted upon reference to the drawings that the mouth of the projecting portion has a cross-sectional area of less extent than the area of the segment of a circle defined by a chord which passes through the innermost point of the mouth defining Wall I5, 1, e., the innermost point of projection of said wall into the bore. Another important reason for this efliciency is that hot water is withdrawn from a portion only of the hot water region of the fitting While permitting hot Water to pass through the fitting in the remaining portion of the hot water region. Furthermore, cool water is returned only to the cool water region of the main supply pipe. In this manner the hot and cool water regions are established and maintained in the main supply pipe.

The invention makes possible installations of hot water heating systems at a cost not greater than that of steam heating installations. While it has been emphasized that the fitting of the invention is especially suitable for use in a one pipe hot water heating system without a pump, it will be readily apparent that it is equally suitable for use in such systems with a pump or in two pipe hot water heating systems.

A modified type of fitting embodying the invention is shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 and comprises a body II having a passage I2 extending therethrough. The fitting is also provided with an elbow formation Id. In these respects the fitting is identical to that previously described. In addition, the fitting is provided with a second elbow formation 40 having a portion 4| extending laterally from the body II and having a wall portion 42 extending into the passage I2 so that its inner end faces in the opposite direction from the inner end 20". The fitting should be positioned so the elbow formation I4 is connected to the branch supply pipe and its inner end 20' is located in the upper or hot water region of the main supply pipe. The second elbow formation 40 should be connected to the return pipe and its inner end 42 located at the lower or cold water region of the main supply pipe. In certain cases it may be desirable to increase the diameter of the body I l in the vicinity of the elbow formations M and 40 so that the remaining portion of the cross sectional area in this region will not be less than the cross sectional area of the passage in the main supply pipe to which the fitting is connected.

I claim:

1. A reversible pipe fitting having a body for insertion in the main line of a liquid supply of a heat exchange system, said fitting having a lateral branch for establishing communication with a branch line, the lateral branch having a portion projecting into the body, the mouth or" said projecting portion defining a cross sectional area. of less extent than the area of the segment of a circle defined by a chord which passes through the innermost point of the mouth defining Wall, said projecting portion occupying a position with relation tothe fitting such as not to preclude that a portion of the liquid traveling through the zone in which the mouth of said projecting portion opens shall continue to travel in its normal path of movement.

2. A reversible pipe fitting having a body for insertion in the main line of a liquid supply of a heat exchange system, said fitting having a lateral branch for establishing communication with a branch line, the lateral branch having a portion projecting into the body, and the opening in said branch being not substantially in excess of the quadrant of a circle to direct liquid from the fitting to the branch line or to return liquid from the branch line to the fitting in accordance with the position of the fitting, said projecting portion occupying a position with relation to the fitting such as not to preclude that a portion of the liquid traveling through the zone of the fitting in which said projection opens shall continue to travel in substantially its normal path of movement.

3. A reversible pipe fitting having a body for insertion in the main line of a liquid supply of a heat exchange system, said fitting having a lateral branch for establishing communication with a branch line, the lateral branch having a portion projecting into the body, said projection having angularly disposed walls substantially of a length less than the radius of the bore of the fitting, whereby a by-pass. alongside the projection for the free flow of the liquid is provided, the difference in cross sectional area between the fitting in the plane of said projection and the main line to which the fitting is connected being insufiicient to substantially retard flow from the main line through the fitting.

l. A pipe fitting having a body for insertion in the main line of a liquid supply of a heat exchange system, said fitting having a lateral branch for establishing communication with a branch line and a second lateral branch for establishing communication with another branch line, each lateral branch having a projecting portion projecting into the body, the mouth of said projecting portion defining a cross sectional area of less extent than the area of the segment of a circle defined by a chord which passes through the innermost point of the mouth defining wall, said projecting portions occupying positions with relation to the fittings such as not to preclude that a portion of the liquid traveling through the zone in which the mouths of said projecting portions open shall continue to travel in its normal path of movement.

5. A reversible pipe fitting having a body for insertion in the main line of a liquid supply of a heat exchange system, said fitting having a lateral branch laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fitting for establishing communication with a branch line, the lateral branch having a portion projecting into the body, the mouth of the projecting portion cupying a cross-sectional area so positioned with respect to the cross-sectional area of the fitting that a portion of the liquid traveling through the fitting above and laterally of the bottom. of the mouth of the projection will continue to travel uninterruptedly in its normal path through the fitting.

6. A reversible fitting having a body for insertion in the main line of a one pipe hot water heating system, said body having a lateral branch ofiset to one side of the center line of the body, said branch having a wall projecting into the bore of the body and merging with the wall thereof and another wall disposed at an angle to the first wall and merging with the wall of the body, the wall of the fitting in the bore thereof above said projection walls being shaped to form part of the wall of the branch and curved transversely and inclined longitudinally toward the outer end of the branch, the mouth opening defined by said walls being not substantially greater than the difference between the cross sectional areas of the main line and the bore of the fitting.

. ANGELO MINELLA. 

